Practical home organisation tips to ease life in shared households

Living with family or flatmates brings clashing routines, different cleanliness standards and recurring annoyances. A consumer journalist with years of flat-share experience offers 21 practical organisation hacks to reduce friction and arguments in shared homes. Start with shared planning: a wall calendar or communal planner for birthdays, bin days, visits and chores cuts down on miscommunication and double-booking.

Simple ownership systems work. Colour-coded towels and labelled storage make it clear what belongs to whom and stop everyday disputes over toiletries and laundry. Manage shared spaces with small containers and stations: grab-and-go bathroom caddies, a tray or bowl by the door for essentials, fridge organisers to separate personal and communal food, and a sink organiser to keep cleaning items tidy and dry.

Reduce noise-related tension with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, and bring people together with a shared speaker or radio for meals and chores. Practical storage solutions — shoe racks, foldable drying airers, communal laundry baskets and overdoor hooks — keep hallways and shared rooms usable and safer to move through.

Keep household chores and supplies organised with a shared shopping list on the fridge and a small toolkit for common fixes. A label maker helps maintain order in cupboards and storage boxes.

Key Topics

Business, Culture, Shared Housing, Flatshare, Organisation, Home Hacks, Household